Electrical assembly



May 1962 R. E. FITZ GERALD 3,032,741

ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Filed April 15, 1959 Fig". 2.

Invenior. Ro'a'eawi E. fifi'l't'zlerahl,

tates ited This invention relates generally to lamp socket assembliesand has particular reference to wiring connectors adapted to be snappedinto engagement with the terminal contacts assembled therewith.

Detachable wiring connectors heretofore used in industry andparticularly in automotive wiring have been of the staked wire type andtheir particular configurations have required high insertion pressurebut which could be withdrawn under pressures in the magnitude of twelvepounds. Difficulties have been experienced with existing wiringconnections in that they are not vibration proof and result in faultyelectrical connections and open circuits.

The object of my invention is to provide a wiring connector of a new andimproved construction having high withdrawal pressures.

Another object of my invention is to provide a detachable wiringconnector which will resist vibration and mechanical strain.

A further object of this invention is to provide a resilient wiringconnector having means for snap engagement with a terminal contact.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, inpart, appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the male wiring con nector;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the connector as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation, partly in section illustrating the maleconnector snapped into engagement with a female terminal contact;

FIG. 4 is a view in section, partly in elevation, of the terminalcontact carrying means with the wiring snapped into engagementtherewith, prior to assembly with a lamp housing;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a lamp socket 145 of the typeused in automotive illumination which is adapted to be snapped into anopening 12 in a support 14 and retained by means of spring fingers 16.The lamp socket comprising an open ended housing 18 for receiving thebase of a lamp bulb 20 and terminal contact carrying means 22 extendingrearwardly therefrom. The housing 18 has J-slots 24 for retention of thebase of the lamp bulb 20.

The contact carrying means '22 are of the type which is fully describedin my copending application, Serial No. 731,822, filed April 29, 1958,and now Patent No. 2,912,- 669, issued November 10, 1959, and comprisesan insulated housing 26 having a pair of headed eyelets 28 disposedtherein and retained in assembly by a flared opened end portion 30. Theeyelets 28 are resiliently biased in the direction of the bulb 20 byspring means 32. A circumferential groove 34 is formed in the eyelet onthe exterior lateral surface at a predetermined point for a purpose tobe described hereinafter.

The Wiring connector 36 as illustrated in FIGS. land 2 is formed from aresilient sheet metal blank rolled to form a generally tubular portion38 having a longitudinal gap 40 on one surface. The tubular portion istapered atent O toward one end 42 to provide lead for insertion withinthe eyelet 28. A series of circumferentially aligned peripheral slots 44are formed on the tubular portion 38 above the taper and spaced fromeach other by ribs 46. A stop portion 48 is longitudinally spaced fromthe peripheral slots 44 and is of lesser diameter than the eyelet 28 butof greater diameter than the inner diameter of the circumferentialgrooves 34. Lugs or staking means 50 are formed on the free end of thewiring connector for attachment to suitable wiring 52.

To assemble the wiring connector 36 with the headed eyelet 28, thetapered end 42 is inserted into the end and continuous pressure appliedso that the connector 36 will flex causing the longitudinal gap 40 tonarrow and reducing the diameter of the connector. The inherentresilient characteristics of a connector of this construction will allowit to pass into the headed eyelet '28 to a point where thecircumferentially aligned series of slots 44 enter into snap engagementwith the walls of the circumferential grooves 34. The stop portions 48are spaced from the slots 44 a predetermined distance to preventexcessive pressure being put on the connector 36 during insertion and toinsure proper alignment of the slots 44 with walls of thecircumferential groove 34. It will thus be seen that the tapered end 42permits relatively easy insertion but when the walls of thecircumferential groove 34 are retained within the slots 44, dislodgementby vibration in other means will be effectively reduced.

Since certain other obvious modifications may be made in this devicewithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector assembly for snap insertion into a lampsocket base comprising in combination a contact member consisting of aclosed eyelet having an annular detent therein and a tapered tubularbarrel, said barrel having an open slot on one lateral surface providingfor radial flexibility, said slot widening at a point above the taperinto a peripherally extending aperture, a stop portion spaced from saidtubular barrel by said slot and connected therewith by depressedlongitudinal bridges defining a peripheral groove, said peripheralgroove cooperating with the annular detent of the eyelet for retentiontherein.

2. A removable terminal connector for insertion into a lamp socket basecomprising in combination an improved contact member including a closedeyelet having a detent flange formed therein and a wire terminal, saidwire terminal comprising a tubular male member tapered along thelongitudinal axis to facilitate initial insertion within the eyeletmember and being longitudinally divided by an open slot to provideradial flexibility, slots formed in the periphery of said tubular malemember above the taper and separated from each other by longitudinalbridges, said bridges forming with the slots a peripheral groove adaptedfor cooperative engagement with the detent flange of said eyelet tosecure the wire terminal with the contact after insertion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GreatBritain May 10, 1950

